I just walked in the house and the first thing that crossed my mind was head to the kitchen and decide what to have for supper. I stopped myself and said why are you going to the kitchen your not hungry it's just what you are used to doing. Much like spending 10 minutes looking for your cigarettes then realizing you haven't bought a pack in 2 weeks because your quitting.

I have been fat all my life, I have smoked since I was 11 that's 35 years. I have abused alcohol and or other drugs from the age of 14-35. Today was the first time I realized to change these behaviors all require the same things. Not only do you have to change the behavior you must change the vicious cycle that got you there in the first place. Such as not making food so important. Knowing that difference between wanting something and needing something.

Well I don't know if this is the right forum for this and don't know if this qualifies as a success but it is a success to me. Just in case here are my successes I was banded on 1/21/13 and have lost 17 lbs. I have not bought a pack of cigarettes since Feb. 11th. I was bumming one here and there but have not touched one in over a week.

Congratulations! I feel for you, sista! I quit smoking just to have the surgery. This is the only thing I was willing to give it up for. It's only been a couple of weeks, I still crave one sometimes, but I still crave solid food, too, and I'm doing okay without it. I figured if I quit while I was restricted in my eating I wouldn't gain another 20 pounds from quitting. (I wonder if I'll be addicted to the Valium when this is all over?)

I'm still 9 days from bandyland and I can hardly stand it. Worse than waiting for my next cruise.

Congratulations! I feel for you' date=' sista! I quit smoking just to have the surgery. This is the only thing I was willing to give it up for. It's only been a couple of weeks, I still crave one sometimes, but I still crave solid food, too, and I'm doing okay without it. I figured if I quit while I was restricted in my eating I wouldn't gain another 20 pounds from quitting. (I wonder if I'll be addicted to the Valium when this is all over?)

I'm still 9 days from bandyland and I can hardly stand it. Worse than waiting for my next cruise.[/quote']

I am thinking the same thing. I don't have to quit because I'm self pay but the doc said I could have more trouble healing. Truth is...I want to quit but the thought of weight gain has held me back too. I'm thrilled to know that others have and are doing so well. You've inspired me to pick a quit date!!

I am using Chantix for the smoking. Is it cheating? No it is just a tool much like the band. It is only gonna work if you work it.

That's interesting that self-pay would be any different than insurance coverage with regard to smoking. My surgeon will not do the surgery if you're still smoking. (He does a nicotine test, too.) He says the healing is different, the risks are greater, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, I get it. I should quit. We all should quit But, damn! I miss my little friends in the flip-top box that resided in a special pocket in my purse. I could count on them when I couldn't count on anyone else. Who else would be up with me in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep? With who else could I bare my soul, without fear that I would repulse them with my most intimate thoughts? And when everyone else had left the party, who was still there sharing the private moments of celebration? Or grief. Or fear. Or anger. I have some pretty awesome girlfriends but they usually go home at night to their own families. My little friends were with me always. But alas, this, too, is a change I must make.

But let me tell you, if they come out and say they were wrong about smoking and it was all a hoax about the cancer and the illnesses and houses that would fall from the sky onto my body if I didn't quit smoking, a hoax to generate money for the lobbyists or whoever, then I'm gonna be the first one in line to buy a fresh pack!

That's interesting that self-pay would be any different than insurance coverage with regard to smoking. My surgeon will not do the surgery if you're still smoking. (He does a nicotine test' date=' too.) He says the healing is different, the risks are greater, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Okay, I get it. I should quit. We all should quit But, damn! I miss my little friends in the flip-top box that resided in a special pocket in my purse. I could count on them when I couldn't count on anyone else. Who else would be up with me in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep? With who else could I bare my soul, without fear that I would repulse them with my most intimate thoughts? And when everyone else had left the party, who was still there sharing the private moments of celebration? Or grief. Or fear. Or anger. I have some pretty awesome girlfriends but they usually go home at night to their own families. My little friends were with me always. But alas, this, too, is a change I must make.

But let me tell you, if they come out and say they were wrong about smoking and it was all a hoax about the cancer and the illnesses and houses that would fall from the sky onto my body if I didn't quit smoking, a hoax to generate money for the lobbyists or whoever, then I'm gonna be the first one in line to buy a fresh pack![/quote']

Don't just like this...love this!!